Sunday Sauce (2025)

-Written by Bryan Miller. 

2025 HOLLYSHORTS FILM FESTIVAL REVIEW! 

Sunday Sauce, written, directed, and starring Matt Campanella, follows Gino (Matthew Risch), an Italian-American man and closeted homosexual, as he navigates Sunday dinner within a strictly devout Christian family. Gino’s internal struggle with his identity is compounded by an overbearing mother, a pregnant 19-year-old daughter, and a comatose wife. Everything comes to a head when Gino’s online lover is inadvertently invited to Sunday dinner.

If Campanella has a full-length feature in mind for this short, I sincerely hope someone gives him the chance to bring it to life. The characters and scenario are incredibly compelling. Watching a man–a father, a son, a husband–grapple with a hidden identity that contradicts his faith and upbringing makes for a rich, emotional narrative.

Risch is phenomenal as Gino. You can feel the weight of his anxiety as his secret life and public life are suddenly forced to sit at the same dinner table. The supporting characters are interesting, though none as compelling as Gino. Kathy Moriarty is excellent as Nancy, the overbearing grandmother obsessed with finding a “proper” husband for her unwed, pregnant granddaughter. Nicole Ehinger, who plays Francesca, makes the most of her limited screen time, bringing welcome comic relief to an otherwise heavy story. Francesca’s brashness and immaturity stand in sharp contrast to Gino’s reserved demeanor—highlighting a generational shift. Her situation, once considered shameful, is now accepted without hesitation, while Gino remains trapped by his faith and upbringing. It’s a powerful juxtaposition.

Another aspect I really enjoyed was the humor. While the subject matter is serious, Campanella weaves in light moments that bring much-needed levity to the story. I especially liked the dynamic between Gino’s mother and Marco’s grandmother. Just as there’s a clear contrast between Gino’s closeted life and his daughter’s openness, there’s also a sharp (and funny) contrast between Italian Americans and Italians, which leads to some genuinely entertaining moments.

So, what didn’t work for me?

Some of the editing and cinematography felt overly stylized at times, occasionally drawing attention to itself in a way that pulled me out of the story. I understand the intention—to visually mirror Gino’s growing anxiety as he faces the awkward and surreal situation of his secret online friend suddenly appearing as his daughter’s potential boyfriend—but some choices felt excessive. For instance, the extreme close-ups of people noisily eating lobster were meant to heighten the tension, but instead came off as a bit heavy-handed. The discomfort was already clear, so those visual flourishes felt unnecessary. That said, the majority of the film was well shot, with thoughtful lighting and composition that complemented the tone and enhanced the mood. It’s just that in a few key moments, the style veered into distraction rather than support.

I was also a bit put off by the heavy-handed symbolism. Gino’s personal transformation was already clear, so I didn’t need to see him literally transforming. It felt forced and oddly reminiscent of District 9, which probably wasn’t the intended comparison. Also, the bubbling red sauce as a metaphor for rising tension–and eventual explosion–was clever, but ultimately unnecessary. It didn’t hurt the film, but it didn’t add much either.

Overall, Sunday Sauce presents a provocative and intriguing concept. Despite a few technical missteps, the story as a whole is compelling and definitely worthy of a full-length adaptation.

Written & Directed by Matt Campanella. 

Starring Matt Campanella, Vicenza Campanella, Maria Carrozza, Nicole Ehinger, Cathy Moriarty, & Matthew Risch.

8/10 = WORTH RENTING OR BUYING